PS 3503 
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1898 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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Copyrighted 1898. 

By MRS. LIZZIE I. BELLER 

All rights reserved. 



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THE 



STAR 



OF . . . 



LIGHT. 



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2957.3 

To THE Masonic Fraternity — 

Who have ever been as the "Shadow of a 
Great Rock in a Weary Land," and to those 
who have "Seen His Star in the East," this 
volume is courteously and respectfully 
dedicated. 

Lizzie I. Beller. 



THE BLUE VEIL. 



a:i?c Blue Dcil. 



When formless was the earth and void, 

Before the world awoke, 
While darkness moved upon the deep, 

E'er yet Jehovah spoke ; 
In that vast realm of chaos. 

All nature's forces grand, 
Lay wrapped in sleep and silence deep 

Awaiting God's command. 
'Tis told in the Sacred Story 

That over that Gulf of Night 
He sent a ray of His Glory — 

He said, "Let there be Light."- 
His spirit moved in its mighty power 

Over the misty deep, 

And all the waters from that hour 

Into their cradle creep, 
And there the Earth forever rocks 

The Ocean waves to sleep. 
And when He breathed upon that world 

Where lay the darksome night, 
A luminous haze of ether blue 



6 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Was the first born ray of light. 
It circling spread, like a fleecy cloud, 

And covered the darkness o'er, 
The very first Veil of azure pale' 

That earth and Heaven wore. 
It rose, a mist, of amethyst. 

In the sky its station was given, 
To curtain the world with its light unfurled. 

And to hide the earth from Heaven. 
Never a shade does its azure fade, 

A type of eternal truth ; 
It covers us o'er with the blue that it wore 

When time was in its youth. 
Watchers abide on the other side, 

But when our loved ones die. 
The Veil opens wide to the purified 

That their souls may pass on high. 
None but the immortal have crossed its portal 

Save three, where death was denied. 
But its beauties reveal the Omnipotent seal 

To mortals who here abide. 
Night's fingers unroll the Heavenly scroll. 

The letters are stars of light ; 
It is God's own history, written in mystery, 

And language infinite. 

Joyous sounds the harp and cymbal, 

Victory is in the song ; 
Home returning from the battle, 

Jepthah, victor, leads the throng. 



THE BLLE VEIL. 

Over Gilead- and Manassah, 

And the Ammonitish race, 
Waves on high the conquerors' banner, 

Fairly won its honored phice. 
Won, the meed of his ambition— 

" Jepthah, Judge of Israel " now- 
Flushed with pride to see his subjects 

Humble and submissive bow. 

Illegitimate and outcast, 

Stainless, honored now, and free ; 
Oh ! how roseate glowed the future, 

Only eyes of hope can see. 

But memory wakes within him. 

With Mizpah in his view. 
His rash vow to Jehovah 

Of fearful import grew. 

Adah and her maidens, 

A happy, joyous throng, 
Hasten forth to meet him, 

With timbrel, dance and song. 

Of what value now his honors, 
Bought at such abhorrent price? 

Could the twenty conquered cities 
Pay for Adah's sacrifice ? 

All-consuming is ambition. 
Reaching to its utmost goal ; 

When all else is burned to ashes 
It will feed upon the soul. 



8 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

In this lite and in the future. 
Singing its victorious song — 

" Know that I shall live forever, 
I to Lucifer belong." 



The Rabbis question Adah's fate, 

And cite that all the law 
Would bar a human sacrifice, 

Its forfeiture withdraw. 
Since none could of that life dispose, 

Which he could not restore. 
The tiames were those of Moloch, 

Accui^ed for evermore. 
And naught of such a sacritice. 

If human life was given. 
Would be accepted in his sight 

Or reach the God of Heaven. 



There is a story, or legend, 
Which thus defines their fate. 

'Tis that in the lowest Paradise 
Jepthah and Adah wait. 

Where ever and ever recurs the scene 
Which Adah's fidelity knew ; 

She knows no wrong, but Jepthah's sin 
Is ever before his view. 



THE BLUE VEIL. 

He dare not tell her that fatal hour 

In the past forever is o'er, 
For there, by decree of Omnipotent power, 

It will live till time is no more. 

And there in sorrow his spirit 

In remorse o'er the past shall brood, 

Because of the fatal vow he made 
And of passion unsubdued. 

And ever this truth he repeats, 
As "Alas, my daughter," he cries 

" The voices of wrong to time belong, 
But eternity always replies." 

Adah's memory, lingering on that vow, 
Unfulfilled to her its import clings, 

Ever thus with Jepthah pleads. 
As of that sacrifice she sings : 

" Father, is it not the hour 

For the promised sacrifice ? 
I am ready, then hereafter 

Comes the joy of Paradise. 

" Father, on the mountain's summit. 
Where it meets the crystal light. 

Spirits from the upper Heaven 
Often pause upon their flight. 

'■ They have told me on the earth-land 
Many are the changes wrought ; 

Israel as a nation vanished. 
And their greatness come to naught. 



10 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

" That the Christ became an earth-born, 

And His teaching to mankind 
Shows them where the law of Moses 

And the law of love combined, 

"Forms a brotherhood eternal, 

Man to man as brothers bind, 
In this law of love the living 

Truth and life eternal find. 

"And they say a vow now given 

For ambition's strange device. 
Would not reach the Great Jehovah, 

Nor would he demand its price. 

" Tell they, too, that truth and honor 

By no sacrifice are bought ; 
But instead by earthly barter 

They are often sold for naught 

" Some of this I understood not, 

And I said that to be true 
To the teachings of Jehovah 

Was theonl}" law I knew. 

" Strangely then they gazed upon us. 

And mj' maidens timid grew. 
While the spirits wondering, whispered, 

' Is that earthly story true ?' 

"Art thou, then, that 'Jepthah's daughter,' 

Who to prove a sacrifice, 
Taught the world that living lesson, 

Honor is without a price ? 



THE Bl UE VEIL. U 

" Saying, then, that in the earth-world, 
Where abides the human race, 

Jepthah's daughter and her story 
Have an high, an honored place. 

" That the lesson I had taught them 
Was repeated night by night, 

Someone, somewhere, ever leading- 
Out of darkness into light 

" Brightest of the Orient jewels 

Shining in the Eastern Star, 
Light and knowledge, and the beauty 

Of a soul no sin could mar. 

' Wondi-ous stories, too, they told me 

Of another, brighter sphere ; 
But they said that I must linger 

While your vow^ should bind me here. 

"Father, where is Israel's God ? 

Why thus ever hide His face? 
Surely He should give approval 

When the sacrifice takes place. 

" To a vow should He not hearken ? 

Why not call upon Him now ? 
Call, and strike the fatal blow 

To release you from your vow. 

" I will raise my eyes to Heaven, 

To that bright celestial sphere. 
That my glance may not deter you— 

Ouickl), father, do not fear. 



12 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

" List! the chorus ! 'tis the hour 
For the promised sacrifice ; 

T am ready ; then hereafter 
Comes the joy of Paradise. 



•'Adah, seek again the spirits 
Of that pure celestial throng ; 

Tell them when to earth returning 
To carry this message along. 

" Tell them it is a truth that time 
Hides from mortal sight ; 

Tis only seen when first it lives 
Exposed in Heaven's light. 

" Errors are human, die with time, 

And unto time belong ; 
But all of God's eternity 

Cannot efface a wrong," 



RUTH, THE GLEANER 18 



Kutl], Ct)c (SIcancr, 



Long years ago, so ancient is the story, 

When Israel abode in Palestine, 
Judah, the favored tribe, in princely glory. 

Ruled o'er the land, the first of all the line. 

Over Bethlehem their royal standard floated, 

A Lion on a field of azure blue ; 
"He who was to come" their standard thus 
denoted. 
And Judah alone reserved, if prophecy were 
true. 

Thus Israel rested when Ruth and Naomi came, 
Naomi returning to her native land, 

And thus Ruth tells the story which gave her 
life its glory. 
When autumn with its plenty was at hand: 

" Long journeyed we from Moab's land. 
O'er dreary waste and shifting sand ; 

Looking back, was trouble sore, 
Hope and plenty were all before. 

When we reached Judea's plains 



14 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

The air was sweet with summer rains ; 
In the valley far below 

The scene with life was all aglow. 
The setting sun's low, mellow ray 

Stretched slanting down the traveled way 
While purple shadows here and there 

Blended with the ambient air, 
And threw a softening, misty haze 

On distant hills and winding ways. 
In ever varying light and shade 

The buildings of the city laid ; 
In yellow gold its turrets shone, 

Cool shadows o'er its streets were thrown 
It seemed to us who sought its rest 

A very Mecca for the blest. 
Naomi, silent, gazing down 

Upon the valley and the town 
Seemed living over what had passed 

Since she beheld that city last. 
As memory that past revealed 

Thus did her heart its utterance yield 

" ' Oh ! Bethlehem, Oh ! Bethlehem, 

City of peace and rest. 
The God of Moses, Thee I Am, 

Has surely called Thee blest. 

" ' May I within thy sheltering walls 

But find repose and peace 
Until for me the darkness falls 

And light and life shall cease. 



RUTH. THE GLEANER. 15 

" ' Here we are tossed as the shifting sand, 

Our life is but a breath, 
Which the wisest do not understand 

Since all of it ends in death. 

" 'And the wisdom of all in Israel, 

The fathers or those of youth. 
From that mysterious silence 

May never wrest the truth. 

" ' My sons with their father sleep. 
And the sweetness of earth has flown ; 

For who shall say that they live again 
Beyond in the great Unknown.' 

" Thus far Naomi's sad lament 

I silent heard and silence lent ; 

To wake her mind from sorrow's dream 

I spake upon another theme : 

Naomi, mother, cease to sorrow, 

We must care for the tomorrow ; 

Night is coming, it is late. 

We must reach the entrance gate 

Quickly e'er the darkness falls 

Or be shut outside the walls. 

Then with hastening steps advancing, 

Many those who curious glancing, 

Yet they gave us courteous greeting. 

As the custom was when meeting ; 

But of this I need not tell, 

We stopped within beside a well, 

Where many drew its waters sweet, 



Ifi THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Xaomi there old friends did meet ; 

To others our coming these referred, 

Until 'the city was all stirred.' 

They came, a thronging multitude' 

In various garb and various mood ; 

Some, curious only, upon us gazed, 

Others in sorrow stood amazed, 

And marveled that decree of fate 

Which left Naomi desolate. 

Her station high, and honored name, 

Her kinsman first in Judah's fame, 

And all iier youth they first recall 

Who let this wondering question fall : 

' Is this Nofmii /' As they spoke 

Her bitter sorrow all awoke. 

' Call me not Naomi, call me Marah ; 

For the Lord hath dealt bitterly with me. 

Full went I out. and the Lord hath brought mt 

Home again empty to thee.' 

Then one who all her speech had heard 

Comforted with gentle word — 

' Sister, from a loving God 

Life directed is complete ; 
Hope is that all-potent rod 

Which makes the bitter, sweet. 

' It is the gift of Israel's God, 

A light which beckons on ; 
It never shines upon the past, 

But is the future's dawn. 



RUTH. THE GLEANER. 17 

You are weary, spent and worn, 

Rest with me until the morn.' 

'Till of weariness divested 

In that peaceful home we rested. 

Now, being of the Gentile race, 

The barriers within this place, 

Separating Judah's line. 

Were stronger in this land than mine^ 

Upon this race I had no claim 

Save that of my dead husband's name. 

Love for Naomi did abound. 

And thus through her I favor found ' 

To gain for us a livelihood, 

Naomi keep in cheerful mood. 

I needs must glean. I chose the field 

Which seemed to most abundant yield ; 

Deeming its owner would not care 

For scattered grain I gathered there. 

At hour of noon with greeting came 

The master — Boaz was his name. 

Mingling with his maidens I 

Hoped unnoticed to pass by, 

Knowing not what form of speech 

Cu.stom demanded or should teach ; 

Watchful the glance he threw around, 

Oppressive silence reigned profound. 

As when something is amiss ; 

Then questioned he, 'Whose damsel's this?' 

' From Moab's country the damsel came, 

With Naomi ; mine be the blame 



18 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

If aught is amiss. She said, I pray 

Let me glean among the sheaves today. 

Here she has been since the morning broke.' 

Thus he who led the reapers spoke. 

With sorrow's mist my eyes were dim, 

But fearing blame would be on him 

Who unto me permission gave, 

With full intent to pardon crave, 

I raised my eyes to Boaz face ; 

What did I see ? It was the grace 

Of Wisdom, Beauty, Strength combined, 

A mirror of the heart and mind. 

There was a light within his eyes 

Which searched through all my heart's disguise. 

I raised my hands, my gleanings small 

Uplifted held before them all. 

I could not speak, there was a spell, 

A sense of the invisible. 

Have you not felt it? hearts will fill, 

And strangely fast the pulses thrill. 

From that mysterious immense. 

Outside the utmost bounds of sense. 

He touched us both who gave us breath 

And something hidden waked from death. 

Brief as that glance it bound us fast. 

Linking the future and the past ; 

It swept the spirit's stringed keys. 

They trembled with the melodies 

Of love's unspoken symphonies ; 

We heard, and in that vibrant sound 



RUTH, THE GLEANER. 19 

The mystic key of life was found. ' 

That same eve ere we reposed 

I to Naomi all disclosed. 

She spake of what the law had willed, 

Of prophecy to be fulfilled ; 

Of Israel's race in Bethlehem's land, 

Of much I did not understand. 

But this alone was clear to me, 

Israel's God mine own must be. 

Did he not say, ' Under whose wings 

Thou art come to trust ?' Of future things 

I pictured happy, bright and fair 

If he with me that future share. 

Naomi talked — my only prayer 

Was for His presence everywhere — 

' He called thee daughter ; those who heard 

Knew the adoptive right conferred 

By he who understood the law 

And prophecy's fulfillment saw. 

She saw arise from Israel's race 

A prince of Judah's line to grace 

A coming throne ; and this of me : 

I Am declared 'twas his decree, 

A royal Star of Jacob's line. 

Linking the human and divine.' 

Thus spake Naomi, while I lent 

A listening ear to all intent. 

While pondering o'er a faith so strange 

I slept ; and then there came a change — 

I clasped an infant to my breast 



20 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

As o'er the sandy waste we pressed, 
Boaz and I. 'Twas on my mind 
That enemies were close behind 
Pursuing us to harm the child. 
Profanes they were, with hearts deliled : 
We hastened onward ; as we fled 
Our footsteps past a field were led. 
Therein was one who planted corn ; 
That instant on my mind was borne 
This form of speech : Oh, my friend, 
We are distressed, assistance lend ; 
They come who ask if we have passed, 
They follow in our footsteps fast. 
If this they wish to know of you. 
Answer them thus, and answer true — 
I saw them pass, it was the morn, 
When I was here sowing this corn. 
We hastened onward in our flight, 
But ere the place was out of sight 
I backward glanced ; a vast array 
Of armed horsemen filled the way. 
As flashed the scimeter and shield, 
They halted there beside the field. 
But, lo I in that brief interspace 
A wondrous change has taken place — 
The God of nature interposed, 
The * Yellow Ray ' His power disclosed ; 
Behold the corn grew rank and tall, 
The ' Yellow Ray ' had clothed it all ; 
In ripened gold its tassels waved,. 



RUTH. THE GLEANER. 21 

And by that sign the child was saved, f 

I wakened, then, the silvery light 

Of Isis shone and filled the night ; 

I silent pondered o'er the thought 

How beauteous were life's changes wrought ; 

Yet marveled that this happy change 

Should thus my dreaming thoughts derange. 

Long afttr this, when we were wed, 

I told Boaz the dream ; he said : 

' In prophecy not all is told ; 

When comes the time it will unfold. 

Pharoah sought the young child's life ; 

In Judah if there should be strife 

When comes the prophet of ' I Am ' ; 

If Priest or King, or as that Lamb, 

Who is the type of innocence, 

Eloi grant him that defence 

Which is in strength and wisdom bound, 

And only in the light is found ; 

Who comes as Jacob's Star Divine 

Has naught to fear under our mystic sign. 

In prophecy of old there calls 

Sorrow within this city's walls ; 

The voice of weeping, her children dead, 

Ramah cannot be comforted. 



were 



+ There is a legend telling that when Joseph and Mary 
...re fleeing with the young child into Egypt to escape 
from Herod they were lursited by Roman 'soldiers, who 
inquired of a man in a field of corn if he had seen them 
pass He replied to them as requested bv Marv, and the 
soldiers, seeing the ripened corn, naturally supfiosed that 
many days had gone by since they had passed, and pur- 
sued them no farther. 



22 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

If the past the future bind, 

Your dream that future has defined. 

With Him a year is as a day, 

The second Pharoah may be far away.' 

There is little left to tell ; 

Here in Bethlehem we dwell ; 

But oft as falls the autumn haze 

I wander out among the maize. 

Its sweeping waves of yellow gold 

A symbol of my story told. 

I love the autumn's yellow ray, 

Whose beauty covers all decay ; 

Its color glows with nature's dawn, 

The new life when the old is gone ; 

And when the harvest is complete 

Boaz brings home a sheaf of wheat ; 

And at our outer door it stands. 

A type of plenty in the land. 

The poor all know that in this sign 

Wisdom and charity combine ; 

And these, he says, are Heaven-sent, 

And in their power Omnipotent. 

Oft as my babe around me plays 
My dream returns with night's soft haz( 
The child by enemies oppressed, 
Waking I clasp him to my breast. 
And pray that old-time prophecy 
Mav not refer to mine or me. 



RUTH, THE GLEANER. 23 

In Yellow Robes I'm always dressed, 
Because it is Boaz' request ; 
But most because I used to glean, 
I love this robe of yellow sheen." 



24 THE STAR OF LIGHT 



(El]e Signet of Solomon. 

Afar o'er Persia's burning sand 
The ruins of a city stand ; 
Where soft Ulali's waters creep 
Its princeh' glory sank to sleep ; 
O'er what remains of palace wall 
The serpent and the lizard crawl ; 
Shushan a remnant of decay 
And Persia's glory passed away ; 
The stars look down like eyes of fate 
Upon that land made desolate. 
But at the time of which I write 
It glowed with splendour and delight ; 
Such as there was no rival Ijnown 
Since Solomon sat on the throne ; 
For all the treasures Cyrus gained 
Were here by Persian kings retained ; 
Enriched with spoils from every land, 
And all were at the king's command. 
Oh ! happy king, to want for naught. 
And yet some things cannot be bought ; 
Who lives today, thus being bid, 
But would not do as Vashti did ? 
But royalty must power command, 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 25 

The queen is banished from the land ; 
No more is seen her lovely face, 
Esther, the Jewess, takes her place. 
And now the fast declining sun 
Shines down the terraced walk upon ; 
A fountain gushes there in play 
And foliage heavy shrouds the way. 
But little from the path aside, 
Where roses bloom and lilies hide, 
Two Persian maids in idle mood 
There revel in the solitude ; 
One plays upon the lute's soft strings. 
And sorrowfully thus she sings : 

"Vashti, the beautiful, where dost thou wandt-r, 
Over the palace the darkness has come ; 

Vashti, in sorrow o'er thy fate I ponder. 

Where hast thou vanished, where is thy home, 
Vashti, banished queen, where now, is thy 
home ? 

''Vashti, beloved on**, ever we sigh for thee 
Fairer than the lilies by the river side ; 

Graceful, lovely, shall we never more behold 
The gem of Persia, its light and its pride ; 
Vashti, banished queen, ever our love and our 
pride ? 

Vashti, beloved, dim are our eyes with tears, 

Tremulous our voices while we sing ; 
Stars of Heaven guide thee through the coming 
years, 



26 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

To thee our love shall ever cling. 

Vashti, departed one, to thee our love shall 
ever cliug. 
Hush 1 Seppho, let thy lute be still, 

And cease to thus lament ; 
The stars decree our fate and will 

The way our lives are sent. 
Shamar, the watchful, walks without the court, 
And he would to this new queen report 
Without delay the matter of your song, 
No more to Vashti do we now belong ; 
And this late favorite would hardly like to hear 
The praise of Vashti sounded in her ear. 
Be wise ; do not the past retrace, 
The present is our only time and place ; 
Uncertain is the future as the past, 
The favor of the court is none too sure to last. 
This Esther, too. is beautiful and bright, 
Full of grace and sweetness that delight 
The senses and the heart ; and kind intent 
Beams o'er her face, as if she meant 
To give to all that generous meed 
Of sympathy which the less favored need. 
The name she bears denotes a star ; 
It is a happy omen. From afar 
'Tis said she comes ; and of her race 
No one here knows their abiding place. 
'Tis said the king, when they were wed. 
Designed to have a banquet spread ; 
A feast most royal in design, 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 

That he might thus her friends define ; 

And when he told t'was for her sake 

She said, " Let no such thought awake ; 

An orphan I, and have no friends, 

Save on^y such as Heaven sends," 

Then, pitying her, he was content, 

Unheeding of what Shamar meant, 

When once he called her by her name, 

Hadassah, from the Hebrew came — 

That captive race within this land — 

And sometimes things like this are planned. 

But, Seppho, if I do unfold 

What I have seen, and you are told. 

Will you be faithful to the trust 

Until your heart shall turn to dust ? 

The Zendavesta— kiss the book. 

And may the Fire God on you look. 

Know then that I have seen the Jew 

Named Mordecai, oft in view. 

He loiters 'round as if by chance, 

But most of all his watchful glance 

Is toward the Queen's apartments bent 

As if on interview intent. 

Once o'er the court as Shamar walked 

He and this Mordecai talked. 

'Tis he who keeps the inner gate 

Where all the king's attendants wait. 

Sad and anxious was his look. 

And Shamer his instructions took. 

Then to the Queen's apartments bent 



28 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

His footsteps, hastily he went, 

And save but I no one discerned 

When Shamar with the queen returned. 

Wonder filled her face and eyes, 

Which flashed with eager, pleased surprise 

No stranger was he to the queen, 

But as a dear friend might have been ; 

And what thej' spake may I repeat 

When Ormuzd and Ahiram meet ? 

And since that time may never come, 

I see no need to now be dumb ; 

For, Seppho, what I tell to you 

Shall be as though I never knew. 

It seems there was a murderous plot 

By Bigthan and by Teresh wrought 

To strike the king from off the throne, 

The wrong to Vashti to atone. 

To Vashti's kin they did belong, 

And thus they thought to right the wrong. 

Their purpose Mordecai learned, 

To Esther then his footsteps turned. 

Acquainted her with their design 

That she might give the king a sign, 

And say by him the matter found 

So to his honor t' would resound. 

These walls enclose us in a nest, 

But I did chance to learn the rest. 

The matter laid before the king 

Was compassed by a little ihing ; 

They both were guards, and one did boast 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 29 

That he was ahscnt from his post. 
The matter bare, no chance to fiee, 
They both were hanged upon a tree. 
I doubt not he who keeps the gate 
Will sometime fill a chair of state, 
If this he by design intends 
The queen will aid, for thej^ are friends ; 
And she is of the Hebrew race, 
Or my guess is much out of place." 

The speaker ceased, and Seppho, 

With merry gesture cried, 
" Persis, you surely have knowledge 

That reaches far and wide ; 
But, Persis, you are a babbler, 

A babbler and no mistake. 
And if you had to cease your talk 

Your heart would surely break. 
What matter if Queen Esther 

Belonged to the Hebrew race ? 
Vashti could not have chosen one 

To better fill her place. 
[Tho' I say it who loved the Persian queen. 

For her heart was full of grace.] 
With all your knowledge, Persis, 

You are notoverwise ; 
Methinks sometime the king and you 

Will meet with a great surprise. 
In the land from whence the Hebrews came 

They had a king of their own. 



30 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

But Persia captured their treasures 

And Solomon's golden throne 
Is the glory of Sushan palace 

Where Solomon's wisdom is known. 
And they tell that in that city- 
Jerusalem was its name — 
Where the Hebrew God was worshipped, 

A Temple by magic came. 
Three workmen only laid the plans, 

And one was a master mind. 
Direct d by the Hebrew God, 

And all their plans combined, 
So that when the timbers all were cut 

And the stones to design referred, 
It grew to place in a single night, 

And never a sound was heard 
Of cutting timber or shaping rock, 

But only a magic word. 
It is said that when Darius was king 

Such wisdom therein he discerned 
That he questioned long a captive Prince 

But nothing from him learned, 
Save that "truth was mighty and would prevail,' 

Or words to that effect ; 
And they say that Darius was so abashed 

He could only say, ' Quite correct,' 
And he entertained for the captive Prince 

Thereafter a great respect. 
Of the mysteries of their craftsmen 

Never a sign would he give ; 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 31 

But he said that rather than be untrue 

He would sooner die than live. 
'Tis said that before he left the king 

His horoscope he cast, 
And told of a long-forgotten vow 

Darius had made in the past, 
Concerning some holy vessels 

Left over at Babylon, 
Which he thought to return to them again 

But never caused it done. 
When the king much honor on him conferred 

He returned to his native land, 
And the Persians study ever since 

Those mysteries to understand . 
These Hebrews worship but one God, 

And they claim to be his sons ; 
The only Fire-God that they know 

Burns up the wicked ones, 
And something that's left of them after that 

With the evil genii runs. 
With such we little have to do 

Who live from day to day, 
And measure our lives the whole way through 

By what the stars shall say. 
But what I mean to tell you, Persis, 

Will set your mind at rest, 
If such a matter be possible 

With your knowledge unconfessed. 
Quf^en Esther is of royal blood, 

To Solomon's house allied ; 



32 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

She is the light of the Hebrew race 

And all their joy and pride. 
The glow of the diamond is in her name, 

As it shines in the darkest night, 
Peerless above a doubt or blame, 

Estarah, "A Star of Light." 

Shamar comes ; let us retire ; 
His eyes are like the Sacred Fire 
The priests aflame forever keep. 
He never lets them close in sleep. 



In sorrow and sadness came the queen's maidens, 
And thus the cause they disclosed : 

" Over the city a sorrow has fallen. 
Where once only joy had reposed. 

"Estarah, beloved, darkened is the sunlight. 
Over the palace the shadows now fall ; 

The Hebrews are robed in garments of mourning, 
Sackcloth and ashes are over them all. 

"But little removed from the shade of the palace. 
Near the gate where he waited in trust. 

Weeping and wailing in sorrow and anguish 
Mordecai sits in the dust. 

" The Ark, where tne law of Moses reposes 
They carried this morn through the street — 

A symbol of death — in silence oppressive 
It was swathed in a black winding sheet. 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 33 

" Perhaps 'tis a plague that has fallen upon us, 
And the poor feel the touch of its breath ; 

For the sackcloth and ashes that darken the city 
Only come with the shadow of death." 

Then Esther's heart beat fast with dread 
While thus their lamentations spread 

These scenes before her gaze ; 
Alas ! what had her people done, 
She marveled much and thought upon 

With sorrow and amaze. 
"Oh ! maidens, gather the garments white — 
Spare only my royal robes of light — 

That we may here command, 
These I request that they shall wear ; 
Hatach, give them o'er with care 

Into Mordecai'shand ; 
Atid say to him that I, the queen, 
Would fain know what the Hebrews mean. 

If they are ought oppressed 
The king the matter will surely hear, 
Kind is his heart, they need not fear ; 

He will set the thing at rest." 

Slow of step Hatach returned, 

A copy within his hand 
Of a decree the king had given 

Which the wicked Haman planned. 

'' Oh, Queen," said he, " I have seen the Jew, 
This copy will disclose to you ; 
A slaughter of your people planned, 



34 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Of all who dwell within this land. 
Mordecai this message sends — 
On you the Hebrews' hope depends — 
'Tis that you go before the king 
And for them intercession bring." 

Then Esther's cheek grew pale with fear, 
As one who sees death drawing near, 

Her heart with anguish filled ; 
*' Oh ! back to Mordecai go 

And ask him if he does not know 
A law the king has willed ; 
That when he sits upon his throne, 
Within the inner court, 'tis known 

That none may enter there 
Save only those for whom he calls ; 
That honor to the queen ne'er falls. 

And this is my despair ; 
For those who of themselves intrude 
And find him not in gracious mood 

The sceptre to extend, 
There stands his law, it needs no test, 
It covers me with all the rest, 

Death is the certain end. 
Oh ! Hatach, tell him I will pray 
Unto Jehovah night and day, 

And that my maids and I 
On beds of ashes will repose, 
But young and strong my life blood flows 

And I do fear to die." 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 35 

Mordecai then returned 

These words to Esther, and they burned 

The doubt and fear from out her heart : 

" Know, then, you are of us a part ; 

If this decree shall take its course 

The queen shall not escape its force ; 

And if thou now shalt hold thy peace 

Thou and thy father's house shalt cease ; 

Jehovah from another place 

Will send deliverance and grace. 

Who knows if you your fears dismiss 

You are come to the throne for a time like this." 

When selfish thought is thrust aside 
Then mortal life is deified ; 
The path of love and duty trod 
Will lead the soul straight up to God ; 
And swiftly born or slowly wrought. 
Noble deeds are never bought. 
'Tis said that all of nature's fear 
In Heaven's gaze will disappear ; 
That when the soul is pure and white 
The darkness cannot cloud its light ; 
It is a gift of God's design, 
A symbol of his light divine ; 
Whate'erits time of mortal birth 
Its radiance flashes o'er the earth. 
And shines while Empires rise and fall. 
While Time the roll of Centurys call. 
Its light eternal will unfold 



36 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

And shine when all the ''stars grow cold." 
Thus was the soul of Esther born 
To "walk in beauty," like the morn. 

While peaceful she reposed that night 
Strange and wild her fancy's flight ; 
Dreaming, she left the woman's court, 
Nor of her absence gave report. 
Passing through the palace halls 
She stood without its shining walls ; 
Nor sentry nor the inner guard 
E'er sought her footsteps to retard. 
Indeed, they seemed to see her not 
Or know the gates did ope and shut. 
The moon's soft light around her fell, 
Through it she walked invisible. 
No conscious sense alert to guide 
She started toward the river side. 
When far outside the city's gate 
The path she trod grew intricate ; 
It led her o'er an eminence. 
And jutting cliff's without defence ; 
Then winding down the river side. 
O'er heavy rock and fissures wide. 
With step light as an antelope 
She passed adown the hillside slope. 
Thick grew the lilies there and rank 
So that they covered all the bank ; 
Their perfume, like a mist of light, 
Was wafted on the breeze of night ; 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 37 

Their leaves and blossoms interlace 

And fold the queen in their embrace ; 

They kiss her cheek with fond caress, 

As though they only meant to bless, 

And say, ' Oh, Queen, you are one of us, 

And loving you we greet you thus." 

She did not tarry or delay 

But through the lilies made her way. 

In murmured tones and whispering 

Ulali's waters gently sing ; 

The noisy waves they drowned deep, 

So that the night should silence keep ; 

As though it were disloyalty 

If Persia's queen disturbed should be ; 

And marveled much what wondrous thing 

The presence of the queen should bring. 

She glances round, then hesitates, 

And, listening, attentive waits. 

There stands a rock ; a strange device 

Is graven upon it ; once or twice 

With lifted hands upon it pressed 

She sought to move it from its rest. 

In vain ; she has no key to guide ; 

But as she looks it swings aside, 

As though t'was easy to submit, 

Someone inside had opened it. 

She knows him well ; a man renowned. 

With curious gaze he glanced nround ; 

" 'Twas but the noises of the night, 

>'o one is near but the Upright." 



38 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

She answered, "Count me one of those 
Who follow where the Upright goes." 
He saw her not, nor heard her speak, 
Yet sudden pallor blanched his cheek 
With sense of mystery and fear. 
As though a wandering soul was near. 
Beyond, the way was dim and dark. 
Save but of light a single spark 
From out the inner cavern thrown 
Told the place from which it shown. 
Still by unconscious sense impelled. 
She entered, and this scene beheld — 
An Altar built of rock-hewn stone. 
The black of mourning o'er it thrown:; 
The Ark of God upon it placed ; 
A soft light shown, subdued and chaste 
Over the Ark and sacred law 
And upon it arranged she saw 
The compasses and square. 

Upon the circling stones around 
Sat figures who in black were gowned, 
A conclave of despair. 
Then one arose, and thus he spake : 
"Brothers, let your hearts awake 
And let us plead for Israel's sake — 
Jehovah hear our prayer. 

Oh I God, All-powerful, Great I Am, 
Forever clothed in light, 

Deliver us from evil ones ^ 

And guide our steps aright ; 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 

Encompassed by our enemies, 

In Thee our only trust, 
Let Thy light shine upon us. 
And raise us from the dust." 
While thus as Mordecai prayed, 
Esther, wondering and afraid, 
Thought to make her presence known, 
And for her coming to atone : 
She looked upon him face to face, 
No recognition there could trace 
Nor look of stern surprise. 

" He wills that I shall here abide. 
And learn what they tonight decide 
Ere death shall close my eyes." 



" I have a measure to disclose," 
Said Mordecai : " In it flows 
The blood of honored sacrifice, 
And Esther's life may be its price ; 
'Tis all our hope ; if she will plead 
We may escape this time of need. 
But now your counsel I beseech 
Upon a matter that doth reach 

Unto the hearts of all. 
Within the sacred Ark there lies, 
Hidden away where curious eyes 

And profane may not fall, 
Signet of Solomon, whose fame 
I learned to Ahasuerur came ; 



39 



40 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

I chance to know that he did see 
And knows the Signet's mystery 

And will regard its power. 
If his favor she fails to reach 
The Signet will have power of speech 

In that momentous hour. 
If you will thus decide tonight 
Esther shall take the ' Star of Light ' 

That it may greet his eyes. 
Some cubes are black and some are white, 
They tell of darkness and of light ; 
Who has the power to read aright 

Will find their lessons wise.'' 



Momentous silence overcast 

The fleeting moments as they passed ; 

Thus was the edict read : 
" No clouds obscure the stars tonight, 
Jehovah yet may raise upright 

The Hebrews from the dead." 
Then all grew dim and far away 
And Esther woke to light of day ; 
She pondered o'er the wondrous chase 
Her fancy led her, and the place ; 
To be a mirage of the mind 
Most perfectly it was designed ; 
And what was woven while she slept 
Her waking sense securely kept. 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 41 

Swift passed the measured hours away 
Unto that dread, momentous day. 
The queen arrayed her as a bride 
Whose loveliness was glorified 
R}^ richest royal robes of state 
That could her beauty consecrate. 
A gown of shimmering white she wore, 
Its lustrous surface covered o'er 
In tracing of unique design. 
With costly gems that intertwine ; 
In emerald stones and ruby, glows 
The green of foliage and the rose ; 
And here and there the amethyst 
Shines through a cloud of lace-like mist. 
From where the lovely lilies bent 
The diamonds flashing light was sent ; 
And under where the stamens curl 
The surface all was sown with pearl ; 
Over her shoulders lightly thrown 
A royal purple sash was shown. 
To half conceal and half disclose 
The loveliness which 'neath it glows ; 
Her face a dream of beauty rare. 
Fairest of all where all were fair. 

The queen in beauty thus arrayed 
Looked to the east and softly prayed — 

" Jehovah, God of Israel, 
Divine Eternal King, 

I to Thine Omnipotent power 



42 -^ S'A. 



oc r Tf-zu- 



For intercession cling. 
O'er all the earth Thou hast command. 

And those who here abide 
May not stay Thy righteous hand 

Nor ever from Thee hide. 
Thy people, captive Hebrtus here. 

Are by this edict slain ; 
If Thou dost not deliver us 

Then all our hope is vain. 
Thou knowest in these royal robes 

My heart has naught of pride ; 
They mock the anguish of my soul. 

Be Thou my strength and guide ; 
And when I come before the king 

Oh ! soften Thou his heart, 
That it may cling to me, and say, 

■ Oh. bid her not depart.' 



Flashed the sunlight on the palace. 

Far away it reached the sight. 
O'er the glittering sands reflecting 

Undulating waves of light. 
Where you entered at the gateway 

Soft and cool the shadows creep. 
Silent as the fated palace 

Where the princess fell asleep. 
All the guards, like living statues. 

Motionless, in silence stand : 
None mav here intrude or enter 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMOm- i3 

Only at the king's command. 
Further to enforce this warning. 

When the king was on his throne 
Black was draped o'er all the arches 

That death's signal should be known. 
Tho^^e who came to ask his favor 

Tarried in the outer court, 
And those who with urgent message 

Should be called to make report. 
Through the corridor there echoes 

Sound of footsteps soft and low, 
O'er the tassellated marble 

Nearer come and stronger grow. 
Glancing curiously, and watchful, 

With intent and listening ear, 
Rigid stand the guards, and anxious, 

Wondering who should thus draw near. 
She comes with her attendant maid.^^. 

" Esterah, Star of Light ;" 
The guards behold her with amaze 

Xor question of her right. 
They knew her peril and their own. 

But she was Persia's queen ; 
Between the two did duty call 

For them to intervene ? 
Brief time had they to weigh the thought, 

With dismay overcome. 
Before her stately loveliness 

They silent stood and dumb. 
But at the inner entrance 



44 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

A Persian soldier stood ; 
With drawn sword he barred the way 

" Oh dare not to intrude ; 
Admitted here without request 

'Tis death to you and I ; 
I fear it not, hutj^ou are far 

Too beautiful to die.." 
" Heaven alone our fates decide, 

Death ever walks unseen — 
Your duttj done — noic stand aside — 

I ani Persia'' s queen .'" 
The silken curtains tremble 

As with uplifted hands 
She parted them and entered, 

Before the king she stands. 

He looked upon her, flushed his face 
With anger and surprise ; 

Was this another Vashti 
Who his command defies? 

But all her grace and loveliness 

Unto his heart appealed ; 
Perhaps regret for Vashti lost 

His love for Esther sealed. 

While looking thus upon her 

A ray of sunlight came, 
It covered her with radiance bright 

And glory all aflame. 



THE SIGNET OF SOLOMON. 45 

The flashing of the emerald, 

The ruby's ruddy shade, 
The amethyst and diamond 

In vivid lightning played. 
They cast their bright, transparent light 

O'er the beauty of her face ; 
Her eyes, like stars through prison bars, 

Appealed to him for grace. 

She raised her jeweled hand and touched 

The royal crown she wore ; 
He knew her meaning, but the crown 

Another message bore — 

A wondrous Star, and thus it spake 

To Ahasuerus eyes ; 
" From these five points no vows revoke. 

Nor hide them in disguise." 

It was enough ; no harm could come 

To whom this Signet bore ; 
The starr\' fame of Esther's name 

Shall live for evermore. 

And that is how it came to pass, 
Though but to few 'twas known — 

For Esther ever silence kept, 

As the Sphynx of graven stone — 

That the Signet of Solomon appealed 
To the King on the Persian throne. 



46 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 



3f a IWaw Die, Sl^all be €ir)e 
again ? " 



Rabbi Ben Ezra sat within his study. From 
the leaves of the parchment before him he was 
intent upon copying texts to guide his pupils in 
their morrow's task ; to each his separate work. 

The failing light admonished him that day 
was done, and ceasing to write he sought the 
open window. 

Far below the streats of Jerusalem, — narrow 
and ever winding in their course seemed as a 
maze of tangled threads. 

Few were the travelers ; the traffic of the day 
had ceased, and fast that shade descended of 
which is born the twilight and the night, and 
as it o'er the city spread its misty wings, Rabbi 
Ben Ezra thus in his own thought communed: 

" Our heathen rulers call this hour ' the twi- 
light of the Gods.' Much knowledge have 
they; even their poesy is copied from the sacred 
Word of Judah's prophet." 

" Oh ! that the Great ' I Am,' would remem- 
ber now the remnant of His chosen people, and 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 47 

send the promised One to restore our place and 
nation." 

"Daily do these Romans profane His Holy 
Name, and mock us in our helpless state. 

Surely the records fannot err, for ever faith- 
fully they have been kept, and in the proph- 
ecy's fulfillment our promised King must soon 
appear; and yet, Elijah first shall come again. 
Then will " Judah's Lion," clothed with splen- 
dour, follow in his footsteps, from before whose 
royal power the Roman Eagle shall depart, and 
wing its way unto another eyrie ; the " House 
of David " once more reign, and Israel's God 
among His people dwell, and in His "Holy 
Temple." 

" But now the darkness thickens to a sombre 
shade. ' Tis time the youth, Joseph Akiba, 
had returned." 

" He is a faithful lad ; Caiaphas need not fear 
to entrust with him the copy." 

"Almost I love him as my son, and if I still 
abide on earth when comes our King, and my 
pUa will avail, he shall obtain an honored 
place." 

While thus the Rabbi pondered, the youth 
was hastening through the narrow streets with 
eager and impatient step, to reach the Rabbi's 
presence. His face was all aglow with light of 
some suppressed emotion ; entering within the 
open door, low bowed he in salutation ; then 
before Ben P]zra spoke, thus eager he began : 



4- ~-- _-^- :- lj^Hj. 

** Oh ! Rabbi, I have seen Him ; the Youth 
Tjrhose wisdom did conftise the understanding 
of the doctors of the law. within the Holv 
Temple. 

*' It was at the well, where in the noon-day 
heat I rested — I donbt not you do know the 
spot. ' Tis where there stands a cedar high, 
with branches spreading wide, like unto those 
on Lebanon's g:reat mountain. Centuries ago it 
must have taken root, for it has grown so that 
it shades the waters o'er almost to darkness. 

** * Tis a delightful spot. There was I resting 
when He came : near to mine own age is He. 
and it is easy to discern that poverty was in 
His home, and that by labour did He earn His 
bread ; but such a kingly grace, and withal 
modest mien, such comeliness of form and face 
of beauty might the Seraphs wear, for I have 
never yet beheld such loveliness, even in all 
Jerusalem. 

** Fair as a lily, was He : His eyes blue as the 
axure of the sky when the storm-clouds have 
passed away and left the beauty and the light 
of heaven there. 

**His hair held all the rays of sunshine, from 
golden tint to amber shade ; so strangely 
mingled was it tkat I can scarce describe it ; but 
in that hisUny of David, the great King, which 
late TOO tauf^t nfi. He was so like that I could 
£uiCT Darid, thus in his youth appeared. 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 49 

"Rabbi, my heart went out to Him, and as I 
greeting gave. He stayed His steps, and linger- 
ing there with me we converse held. And 
Rabbi, I must tell you that of which He spake 
while yet His every word I do remember. I 
told Him who I was, and then I spoke of you, 
my teacher, wise beyond all others in Jerusa- 
lem, and knowing all the law. 

" But Rabbi, how exceedingly dull I must 
have ever been, for I have nothing learned com- 
pared to knowledge He has gained. 

" His thought is like that fabled alchemy of 
old ; His wisdom can transmute the simplest 
things of earth into eternal truths. I chanced 
to speak concerning that doctrine of eternal 
life which the Pharisees so strictly teach. 

" Perchance." said He, " they study Nature's 
ways." 

Then answered I : " You do not surely know 
the Pharisees. Nature to them is very small 
indeed, and nothing worth ; but they are very 
urgent in the law, and study to be seen of men, 
that thus they may be deemed the sanctified, 
and holy of the earth. But do you to me impart 
what you have learned of Nature's ways, and 
how this doctrine she observes for I would 
learn of this." Then, Rabbi, thus He spake: 

" Haveyour eyes never yet beheld that which 
Nature in ever-moving silence builds'? It is 
not a blind force and dumb, but an eternal Ian- 



50 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

guage which in continued action ever is ex- 
pressed." 

"Nature is the Heaven-born architect Jeho- 
vah gave unto the world, to teach mankind. 
The earth is her great trestle-board, and the 
Creator's vast designs she traces there before 
the eyes of men, that all may look and ponder. 
Thus by immortal truths, the lessons of eter- 
nity are taught unto earth's children ; these she 
imparts to lead them into light " 

" She never errs, though hers is a momentous 
work, and grand beyond compare." 

"In Paradise Jehovah hides that hour-glass 
which shall measure Time ; but to us on earth 
He gives the passing hours as from eternity 
they fall." 

"The doors of Time, are thus ever-present, 
and are ever open wide, for Time is Nature's 
work-shop." 

"The days and years are pliant tools within 
her skilful hands. 

" She holds the centuries as the plastic clay ; 
she moulds them into history, and then folds 
them away. And where they thus repose, 
sealed fast ; this barrier is inscribed : 

" I Am the Past." 

" Her lessons easy to be understood, if we but 
find the key. The seasons each do come in 
their appointed time. In silence each its work 
performs; in silence then depart." 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN F 51 

"These are the lessons that they teach:" 
"The Spring-time's green is Nature's resurrec- 
tion robe. Summer is that resurrection's fruit- 
age in all its glorious promise, throbbing with 
the burden of the life it bears. Then follows 
Autumn, glowing with the yellow shade of 
fruition falling to decay ; but soft and slow of 
step this shadow comes, and over all of fading 
life is thrown a veil of beauty." 

"Look how the leaves ever drink in the 
light, and ere they fall to earth, behold how 
that light has transformed them, clothing them 
with all its beauteous shades, and covering 
them with glory." 

"It is as though they laugh, and say, why 
should we fear decay ? Are we not far more 
beautiful for the life we cast away." 

"In Winter is her lesson given of that brief 
space, in which the body, when from the soul 
and spirit freed, will rest in its repose." 

'' ' Tis then that Heaven sends its veil of 
white to cover Nature's face ; but deep within 
her breast the music of eternal life is flowing, 
and when she breathes upon the land again, 
the green of life appears." 

He plucked a blade of grass, and asked of me : 
" Can thy wise teacher but create a shade like 
this?" 

"Yea," said I : " It is a simple thing to do." 
He takes the colors known, and mixes the 
yellow and the blue." 



52 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Then did He say: " The lesson thus is brought 
to view. Blue is a symbol of eternal truth ; 
this, with the yellow, symbol of decay, com- 
bined, these teach us that in them united, we 
eternal life may find." 

" But without the aid of these two eolors, we 
never can produce the green, save only when it 
it is with poison mingled." 

'' Thus is the other lesson taught; that we can- 
not impart eternal life ; nor yet can we create 
its symbol save with the poison of mortality 
and death to enter in." 

Then spake I to Him of David, saying that 
when the tomb was opened wherein the body 
had reposed, the King laj- there in fleshy form 
and life-like sleep, but lo ! to stone his body 
had been changed. 

"A miracle.'' the Rabbis said, "for so had 
David wrote in prophecj, in words like unto 
these : Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy One 
to see corruption." 

Then did the Youth say unto me : "Be not 
deceived ; surely the Rabbis err. It was Na- 
ture's gift of love ; she interposed her mighty 
power before decay, and gave what immortality 
she could bestow unto a form of clay." 

" Rabbi, more I could not say ; thou knowest 
that the life of David was not from error free, 
and knowing this, I could not declare and say 
he was that Holy One of God. Yet strange it 
seems the Rabbis thus should err." 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 53 

After brief silence interposed, He, from the 
over-spreading cedar, plucked a branch, and 
thus discoursed: 

" Here is the emblem of a truth that lives 
since lives the world." 

- " The cedar never knows decay." 

" In living green it ever stands ; from the 
snowy bosom of the earth, it lifts its icy hands; 
it shades the hoar-frost from its head, and 
pointing to the sky, symbol of immortality, 
says naught shall ever die." 

" It knows no change, even where change is 
rife. Green is the symbol of eternal life." 

"Much cedar wood they used within the 
Holy Temple." 

'• Yea," said I, " but Herod knows not this 
significance of which you speak." 

'' Herod I have never known ;' He made 
reply : " My thoughts did wander back to Solo- 
mon the wise, and to the Tyrian workman." 

Then it was that I inquired of Him : " Hast 
thou seen the Temple?" 

" Yea, at the Feast of the Passover, I was 
there," He answered me. 

"Tell me," I said, "Art thou He who ques- 
tioned the Rabbis, and spake of Moses' law as 
one who had been strictly taught?" 

== It is a well known fact that cedar-wood is indestruct- 
ible, save by fire. There is in the British Museum a speci- 
men of cedar wood taken from the palace of Nimrod ; it is 
known to be 3,000 years old. 



54 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

"Yea," said He ; "I did ask them questions." 

"They are wise men," said I. 

"Wisdom is old; older far than they;" He 
made reply. 

Then questioned I: " Who taught you of these 
truths of which you have discoursed?" 

Long He kept silence, as if pondering ; then 
as one by doubt oppressed. He answered me — 
''My Father:' 

" A learned, and an honored one among that 
sect, the Caballists, surely must your Father be." 

"I have heard that in mysterious hidden 
places; in the lowes- valleys and on the high- 
est mountains they do meet and study mys- 
teries of science, of which the outer world 
may never know ; and it is thought they strictly 
teach this doctrine of immortal life ; for when 
they lay to rest within the sepulchre, one of 
their number gone, they each a branch of ever- 
green cast into his last resting-place." 

Then, Rabbi ; sadly did he give dissent. 

"None of this my father knows. He is a 
carpenter ; in yonder village toils he for his 
daily bread, until the day is done ; his nights 
are passed in rest." 

" The Father of whom I learn is one I find 
at nights when my body sleeps." 

Then questioned I: "What mystery is 
yours?" 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 55 

" Flushed His lovely face, as of one innocent, 
who is accused of wrong ; and thus appealing 
to me, said : " Oh ! tell me if you can, for as 
yet I cannot see it clearly, and I cannot divine 
its meaning. Alas ! it is a crown of sorrow that 
ever drives the sunshine from my heart." 

" Here in Nazareth have I always spent my 
days, save for that journey to Jerusalem ; and 
of other lands naught have I ever seen." 

*' Know you if in any country there is built 
a city most glorious in its beauty ; one whose 
streets are laid with purest, brightest gold; 
whose gates are of a milk white pearl ; whose 
walls are built of precious stones of many colors, 
which shine like gems of light, and flash afar 
the radiance of their glory ; so that the eye can 
never follow them ; and over all the city there 
shines a great white light, before whose glori- 
ous brightness yonder sun would fade away," 

I answered : " Nay, I never heard of it. 
There may be such in Egypt ; that land where- 
in the Hebrews were made slaves. I have 
learned they builded for that people great pyr- 
amids of stone, and temples for their heathen 
gods. They also searched and found those who 
were skilful to execute in figures, and engrave 
in stone ; then carried they a great large 
stone into the desert place, and of it was 
carved a head and face like unto human- 
kind ; the body prone upon the sands, as it 



56 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

were a mighty giant resting there, whose 
eyes forever watched the world ; but ere 
they finished it, Jehovah sent the desert wind 
to heap the sands of the lost Ocean there, and 
so they buried it ; and only but the eyes of it 
do now look out to mock all Egypt's greatness. 

"But of this city you would know; I do 
much doubt if Egypt ever yet bestowed such 
treasures on a city in that land ; too much they 
fear the waters called the Nile, would some- 
time rise and swallow it." 

" In my own mind I am assured that never 
yet was built a city in this world containing 
more of richness and of beauty than our own 
Jerusalem when God yet visited His people ; 
but even it, in all its glory had none of this 
which you describe." 

"Then," spake He : "It is a mystery I do 
not understand ; but truthfully I speak when I 
do say that every night I live in such a city. 
Its beauties and its pleasures all are real ; it 
seems to be my home. There One who dwells 
within that light, teaches me of wisdom and of 
truth, before whose living power the wisdom 
and the truths of earth are as reflections of a 
light cast into a dark place ; and yet I seem to 
have known it all before in ages long since 
past." 

"Confused the memory I retain ; but ever to 
my waking sense the echoes of its music and 



IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN F 57 

its beauties waken words like unto these — 
though words can tell it not : 

" A glorious sea, whose waters shine, 

With crystal beauty all divine, 

And there ten thousand voices sing, 

In praise of some eternal king. 
And of a blessed One, the slain — 

Who sometime over all sh»ll reign. 
But ever as I leave its gates. 

Regretful of ray loss — 
Upon my path, in darkness falls 
The shadow of a cross." 
" When I waken I am the carpenter's son, 
and I am here in Nazareth." 

"Since first I come to understanding of 
the things of life, I have seen this vision, or 
whatsoever it may be. As I older grow it seems 
to deepen to a greater truth ; the end I know 
not; sometimes I do fear." 

Rabbi, He was sad, and troubled in heart 
and from His tender eyes sorrow looked out as 
though the soul within had lost its way, and 
cried aloud for light. 

Then love and reverence in my heart awoke, 
and I, to comfort him ; replied : " Perchance 
you do but dream." Not heeding me He said ; 
"Green is the wall's foundation stone; the 
sixth is like unto blood, and the twelfth a blue." 
"There was I told the green foundation stone 
did typify eternal life, the upper one of blue, 



58 THE STAR OF L IGH T. 

eternal truth, and the central stone of red 
which bound these two did typify the blood of 
sacrifice by which that eternal truth and that 
eternal life were bought." 

"Today I found their likeness." And from 
His bosom He drew forth three jewels : Jaspar, 
Sardius, and Amethyst, they were. 

''Take them," He said, but when He dropped 
them in my hand, they all to dust did fall. 

Seeing His proffered gift thus strangely fade, 
His face took on a sadder shade: 

We parted then, and this was His farewell : 
" Eloi grant thee peace ; and if I sometime find 
that city of the night, Joseph Akiba, you shall 
share with me its light." 

And sorrowing with the memory of that 
scene, Joseph, upon his folded arms hid his 
face and wept. The moon long since had risen 
and now it threw its mellow light within the 
room. Rabbi Ben Ezra, strangely moved, 
long silence kept. When he spoke it was to 
say: 

" Son, didst thou find Caiaphas and bring 
with you the record ? " 

"Yea, Rabbi, I had quite forgotten it." 

"And Joseph, you are still very young, your 
heart is tender, and easily is moved. As for 
this youth of w^hom you tell, I fear He is a 
dreamer, though where He learned the truths 
He thus expounded, is quite another matter. 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 59 

" That is what I would speak of," Joseph inter- 
posed. " Surely you remember that the learned 
doctors said He knew the law, and could in 
truth interpret it, and some who listened, said 
He knew far more than they; though of that 
matter, be it far from me to say, who know so 
little." 

" But Rabbi, for one moment ponder ; might 
it not be He is that Prophet come again ? Elias 
who was of old ; you have taught us that the 
lime was near at hand, and in this youth's form 
and garb, might not Elias now appear?" 

"Would that I could hope it," reverently 
Ben Ezra spoke. " But the soul of Elias come 
again, will live strong and mature, and needs 
not slowly to unfold ; nor vj'\\\ it be of soft and 
tender mold, full of dreams and visions of a 
shadow city ; but stern and strong to execute 
the judgment of Jehovah." 

Malachi writes: "The wicked then shall be 
as the stubble of the field and shall be 
burned with fire, so that under Judah's feet 
they will be trod as ashes — thus shall our 
heathen rulers perish." 

Once more does Joseph plead : "Then Rabbi, 
think again for but one moment, and answer my 
appeal. May it not be He is perchance the 
"Shiloh," that promised Prince of Peace? If 
you could but see Him." 



60 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

"Vain is thy thought ; dost thou not remember 
that Judah's King will come of David's house, 
in fitting royal splendour? In Bethlehem he 
will be born : No, speak not of that fabled star, 
the Gentile Kings did follow from that heathen 
land, where fire is worshipped as the God of 
Light, and where the stars are all the Urim and 
the Thummin that they know. How should the 
Persians learn this of Jehovah, when only 
those from Abraham descended merit the favor 
to be called His chosen ones?" 

" And if perchance it was revealed to them — 
which Eloi himself forbid — what came of it ? " 
"They took the little knowledge they had 
gained to Herod's ears, and of him inquired 
where they should find this new-born King. 
Surely you do know the rest. Sad was the story 
of the "Star of Bethlehem." Methinks I yet 
can hear the cry of twenty thousand infants 
slain to build a footstool for King Herod's 
throne. Ramah, weeping and mourning for 
her children, and would not be comforted be- 
cause they were not." 

"If that slaughter told the death of Judah's 
promised King, then is there naught in all of 
prophecy. The years in silence pass, in 
silence hold the truth, whatever it be." 

" My son, be not thus led astray ; as for these 
Nazarenes, they are among the outcast, poor, 
and despised. 'Tis well that you should now 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 61 

forget this Youth, for He is but a Nazarene 
thou art a Prince of Judah." 



Passing are the years : Judah divided, seek- 
ing power and place, vainly cavilled o'er the 
letter of the law, and in their bitter disputations 
was lost its intent and its spiritual truth. 
But most earnestly they questioned of the 
life beyond, so that they were at strife among 
themselves. There were those who claimed the 
resurrection of the body and the soul ; those 
diflt'ering denied to both that hope, saying : 

"The mystery beyond the tomb was not a 
mystery, but a vast blank of nothingness." 

Mockingly they questioned : " What and 
whence is this immortality you claim?" 
"Where, and by wha process is it held allied 
unto the clay of which the body is ? " " What is 
its form and essence ? " 

" Dead are all the Fathers ; dead is Abraham, 
and all the prophets, turned to dust and ashes ; 
where is now the place of their abode? Oh ! 
point it out to us that we may see and know, 
and thus believe, and thus also learn where 
and how we too may live forever. Then would 
the others thus reply in words like unto these : 

" If of your wise men there is one who can 
devise an eye that will give sight, an ear that 
will give hearing, a brain that will produce a 



62 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

thought, then will we say that these come not 
of an immortal power, and will not to immor- 
tality return." 

" And yet perchance ye wise, who do deny the 
truth, will tell us what it is ye call the soul?" 

"It is not that thought known as the mind, 
for the mind is but the refleciion of the soul 
upon the brain. Neither is the mind, (or call 
it the spirit, if ye will) dependent on the brain ; 
as ye would say, for the brain is ever being 
worn away, and thus destroyed, and then again 
renewed with forces new and strange ; just as 
the bo ly lives, so lives the brain ; whereas the 
mind is a vast storehouse, ever retaining and 
ever locking up what it has found, and there 
it ever is from time long past, and at the 
thought's command. If the mind lived only 
with the brain, and with it died, then would 
the mind die ever, and forget the past." 

"Surely the brain is but the in.strument 
which to the body does convey the message 
from the mind." 

" Yet only give more hours to study and per- 
chance you yet can tell us how the soul is to 
the body bound, and by what process and what 
power it is annihilated." 

"If it is not the link that binds man to his 
Creator, then it is nothing worth, and has no 
place nor part, here, or in the hereafter." 



IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN F 63 

" Ye likewise well do know, and Have not de- 
nied, that in all the realm of Nature and of 
Nature's God, there is no final death ; death is 
the mask that change doth wear," " The form 
may pass away ; it but resolves into another 
element, and ever lives for aye." 

"Do not even thus the heathen believe, who 
write : 

" There lives this truth in life's bright light, 
As in the grave's dark shade ; 
The Gods, themselves, cannot destroy, 
Aught they have ever made." 



Joseph Akiba, grown to manhood ; now 
known as "Joseph of Arimathea," an honour- 
able counselor, and a member of the Sanhedrin, 
listening oft to such discourse, thought ever of 
the boy of Nazareth, who was somewhere lost 
among the passing years. 

In Galilee there had arisen One whose teach- 
ings and whose miracles, had oft been heard of 
in Jerusalem ; some said He was a Prophet; 
but from obscurity He came, and only walked 
and taught among the poor and lowly, and His 
followers and associates were of that class 
called publicans and sinners, such as never 
were permitted to enter inside the temple walls. 
He was a wanderer without a home ; known 
only by the name of Jesus, which of His birth 



64 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

and place told naught, for many were named 
Jesus. And as "Jesus" He was known and 
loved in places where his wondrous power was 
s -en and known. And over all that land He 
passed in silence, now here, now there, as 
lightning flashes gleam when comes the eve- 
ning hour's portentous calm ; still on, and on, 
as one who has an urgent message to impart, 
and whose allotted time is very short, so that 
he may not tarry. 

Marvelous His presence and His power. Thril- 
ling oft the multitude with words of wisdom 
and of truth ; then weeping o'er Jerusalem as a 
woman might have wept. Nature knew Him ; 
the listening angry waters, grow calm at His 
command, and the mighty waves uphold Him 
when He walks upon the sea. 

But the emblematic light of life, was the 
lesson that He brought. He taught it in the 
healing of the sick, by giving sight unto the 
blind, and by the dead restored to life agnin ; 
but most of all He claimed the power to give 
eternal life. 

Thus while the life of Judah was ebbing fast 
away and their last breath spent in unfruitful 
argument, and sealed their eyes in darkness, 
the God of Light and immortality walked to 
and fro among them. Boldly He declared : " If 
a man keep My saying he shall never see 
death." " I only Am the Way, the Truth, the 



IF A MAN DIE. SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 65 

Life." " I Am come, the King of light divine, 
to lighten this dark world, and lead the way to 
immortality beyond the skies." "I Am the 
resurrection, and the life." 

"What marvel that the doctors of the law 
were full of wonder, and of doubt? That the 
wise Sanhedrin was dismayed, dreading such 
power as this? Yet unbelieving, with fine 
irony they argued : Surely the Lion of the 
tribe of Judah, would scorn to live with fish- 
ermen, and eat with publicans and sinners." 

" It would be a noble sight when the children 
of Abraham should see the ' Star of Jacob ' 
wander unattended along the dusty highways, 
so poor he had not where to lay His head." 
And only Joseph, ever remembering the boy of 
Nazareth, so like this Jesus and His life divine, 
thus pleading warns them : " Behold the 
whole world has gone out after Him, for never 
yet has man spake like this man, and though 
I know Him not, if He be of my brethren or no, 
gladly will I greet Him." 

Then spake Caiaphas, bitterly : " This people 
who knoweth not the law, are all accursed ; 
but thou, Joseph, whom I have known from 
youth, and who in the law wast strictly taught, 
what shall I say of thee ? " 

' 'Say what thou wilt, but unto thee say I, know 
that I am here to stand as one between the 
Gallilean and this mob ; yea, and between Him 



66 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

and thee, so long as I do know that He has 
done no wrong, even though thou w^ast the 
High Priest of Jehovah. ' ' The face of Caiaphas 
then grew stern and dark ; but one named 
Nicodemus, interposed : " Doth our law judge 
any man before it hear him and know what he 
doeth?" Then again arose a tumult, and they 
mocking said: "Art thou also of Galilee?" 
" Search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no 
prophet." " And every man went unto his own 

house." 

■A- * ^ * ^ t:- 

In the village of Bethany, at the foot of the 
Mount of Olives, wathin the shadow of the Holy 
City, Lazarus lay dying. 

Where was the Master? Surely it is time the 
message found Him. '' He whom thou lovest is 
sick." Afar the Shiloh heard, and the voice of 
love and faith that called Him from afar, was 
as music in His heart ; and yet He lingered : 

Four days had Lazarus been dead. Many who 
had loved him came to weep with Mary and 
with Martha ; Joseph was there, and " Jesus of 
Nazareth " was coming — even now He trod the 
foot-hill path of Olivet, and as He walked He 
talked with His disciples. " Lazarus sleeps ; it 
^s the last time save one, I shall declare to them 
^he power that Judah's Lion may divinely 
claim." Lazarus dead shall from the grave 
come forth and live again, to leave to ag es a e 
to come the truth of immortality. 



IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? 67 

"Standing by the grave of Lazarus, Jesus 
wept. Was it for Lazarus dead ? Nay, but for 
those who in all time to come would for brief- 
space, rest them in the darkness; and for 
those whose hearts with anguish torn over 
scenes like this, that they might learn the 
message which from the grave of Lazarus has 
winged its way to all mankind, and filled the 
centuries of time with hope and light, and ever 
listening hear the echo of that mighty call to 
immortality: '' Come forth ^ " I am the resur- 
rection and the life.'- 



Look ! Joseph ; Lazarus arisen from the dead, 
is naught of wonderment to thee, since thou 
hast seen the Gallilean Prophet, and hast heard 
him speak. It is the Boy of Nazareth, to man- 
hood grown. Son of the carpenter, aye, and the 
" Son of Gody Swift hasten to Jerusalem, and 
warn the council ere it is too late. 

Tell to them that Lazarus lives again, the 
lesson of the Acacia and the cedar is an eternal 
truth. Plead for the life of Judah's King, for 
thou hast seen His royal power, though masked 
in poverty; and His divinity is hidden in a 
human form so that they knew Him not. Oh ! 
plead for Him with all thine eloquence, remem- 
bering the truths divine He taught thee in thy 
youth under the green of the cedar. Plead for 



68 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Him with all thine heart, for His dreams and 
visions of the great white city of God, grow 
plain unto you now, and you understand why 
in mortal hands the jewels from that city 
turned to dust. 

Oh ! plead for Him M^th all thy soul, remem- 
bering that shadow of the Cross, that darkened 
all His life ; even now, glance up to Calvary, 
and from its summit see its shadow falling over 
Him. Yet all thy pleading is in vain : " His 
blood be upon us, and upon our children," and 
all the eloquence of earth were vain to hush 
the cry of " Crucify Him, Crucify." 

All that is left for thee, is that thou mayest 
lay Him to repose in thine own tomb. 

From the Mount the shadow falls ; it lifts its 
mighty pall to Heaven ; it darkens all the 
world ; It covers all Jerusalem with sombre 
shade it never knew before : Joseph, watching 
and waiting, in agony second only to that of 
the Christ upon the Cross hears Him cry, as His 
sad eyes are upward turned to Heaven in ap- 
peal : " Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabbacthani," and 
hiding his face, Joseph weeps as once before he 
wept, remembering His farewell : 

"Eloi grant thee Peace ; and if I 

sometime find, that City of the Night; 
Joseph Akiba, you shall share with Me 
its light." 



THE RED ROSE. 69 



Ct^e Kcb Kosc. 



When this earth and time was new, 
None other kind than white flowers grew ; 

The varied shades they since have shown, 

Were by a later cause made known. 
When angels visited the earth 

They brought the seeds that gave them birth 
Where 'er they found a barren spot 

They left the sweet " forget-me-not," 
And where they trod, the pansies eyes, 
Serenely look up to the skies. 

The violet sheds its sweet perfume 
Where gaudy flowers refuse to bloom. 

The tiger-lilly's spotted clothes 
Grow where shade and damp repose ; 

Where solitude its sweetness gives, 
The arbutus and wild flower lives. 

And from the rocky mountain's crown 
The eidelweiss looks shyly down ; 
But as I said, when time was new, 
None other than the white flowers grew. 
The colour that we know as red. 



70 THE STAR OF LIGHT 

Came as a symbol from the dead. 
As Abel lay where he was slain, 
The red blood gushed and left a stain : 

Close to where grew the snowy rose 

His body fell to death's repose. 
When the blood of life is shed 
All nature is disquieted, 
And when of passion crime was born, 
Nature was the first to mourn. 

The stars looked out and sadly gazed, 

Hoping the wrong would be erased. 

Because they could not close their eyes. 

They're ever twinkling in the skies ; 

And since that time when earth was young, 

The stars of heaven have never sung. 
The moon rose with her silvery light. 
Its searching gaze revealed the sight. 
And rushing through the ether blue. 
She hastened swiftly out of view. 
Beseeching clouds to hide her face. 
As she passed o'er the dreaded place. 

The air which yet no motion knew 
Was thrilled with anguish through and through : 

It heard the spirit of the dead 
Pass through it to the sky o'erhead : 

Along the path that it had flown 
It left the echo of its moan 

The giant wind unfolds its wings, 
And trembling with the murmurings ; 

Thus from its lethargy awoke 



THE RED ROSE. 71 

And the eternal calm was broke. 

It starts away with frenzied force 
Upon its wild resistless course ; 

It sweeps the land with mighty breath 
To rid it of the phantom death. 

It told the story of the wrong, 
In whispers as it rushed along. 

When naught could for the sin atone, 
Then did the wind in anguish moan. 

And since that time, where'er it goes, 
The wind has never known repose. 
O'er all the earth it hides away 

Never to rest, never to stay. 

Sometimes in the twilight's glow 

It whispers to us soft and low : 
Anon it shakes the casement bar. 

And calls, " I come to you from far. 
Oh I hear the message that I bear, 

I am a spirit of the air." 
Many the doors where it has knocked. 
But few of them have been unlocked : 
None courage have to bid it stay. 
And sobbing low, it creeps away. 
Since that time, when wrong is done, 
The spirit of the murdered one 
No human confidence may share. 
But leaves its message in the air. 

That night afar the wind had sped 
And then by fascination led 

When roseate blush the morning burned 



72 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

Back to the scene again returned. 

The dead man lay as he had fell 
But lo ! the night had woven a spell, 

The dew had fallen on his face, 
And washed away the crimes dark trace, 

And over it thus wan and pale. 
The spider threw a silvery veil. 

As if to hide the mark of sin 
The earth had drank the red blood in ; 

It found the rosebush hidden heart 
And there the story did impart, 

Up through its branch and tendrils crept 
To the white roses, and they wept 

Tears which the blood transfusion fed. — 
The roses turned from white to red. 

Thus Abel's blood " cried from the ground." 
Without a voice without a sound. 

The wind passed o'er them shuddering : 
The reddened leaflets to it cling, 

And drawn by its resistless force, 
They follow with it in its course : 

And far away o'er land and tide. 
It spread the petals far and wide. 

'Tis known to mortals since that time 
Red, is the badge of every crime : 

Whatever form that shade may bring 
It is the sign of suflFering. 

Where discontent and passions rife. 
There leads the blood-red flag of strife ; 

Its votaries have nursed the bud 



THE RED ROSE. 73 

That blossoms to the rose of blood. 

The history of every age, 
Somewhere, sometime, on every page 

Is wrote with blood, with blood is red, 
Of the living or the dead. 

When the world in darkness walked, 
Truth and innocence were mocked. 

And persecution led the way 
Into the light of the " Red Ray." 

In its illuminating glow 
The only light that age can show. 
Upon that " Brotherhood " it fed. 

Whose mystic lucent light was spread 
Where flames like these could never bind 
The mysteries therein enshrined. 
It drew into its warm embrace 

The tender light of woman's face 
They followed where the "Red Ray" led 

To garners of the martyred dead. 
If flames like those could purify, 

White were the souls it sent on high. 

-;v * y- -Jf -If * 

The gift of perfect sacrifice 
Was heaven-sent, without a price : 
And thus the sins of all who erred, 
Were to the Cross of Christ transferred ; 

The Christian's symbol it became, 
An Oratorio of flame. 

Where shown the Cross there was a power 
That ruled above the passing hour. 



74 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

To Constantine the mystic sign 
Came as a symphony divine ; 
Prelude to esoteric glow 
In future years it should bestow. 
The glory of the Cross and Crown 
In Omnipotence shining down, 
Earth has no power to alienate 
Nor time nor change, its force abate. 
It is the only horoscope 
That holds a sign of future hope ; 

And, with a faith grown infinite, 
The Templar follows in its light : 

Some mysteries to him revealed 
Th;it are perhaps to others sealed. 
But those who knew not of their laws. 
And died not in the Templar's cause — 
— Whose faith was held inviolate 
However cruel was their fate, 

Whose life was given without a tear 
Or cry for mercy earth could hear — 
Dragged over sharp and cutting stones — ^ 
— None but the Master heard their moans 
Torn to pieces, limb from limb. 
Dying thus for love of him : 
*Mother Earth, who gave them breath, 



*NoTE. Quinta. a woman of Alexar-dria, was dragged 
over sharp flint stones nntil torn and bleeding, and was 
then stoned to death. 

Cecelia, a Roman matron, for refusing to renonnce Cliris- 
tianity was thrown nmle into a scalding bath and was 
afterward beheaded. 



THE RED ROSE. 75 

Was forced to smother them to death.* 
Buried alive ! Oh ! God of Light, 
Never again send such a night. 

Oh ! what of these who mild and meek, 
Women whom the world calls weak, — 

— Women, who with mortal sight, 
Never saw " Masonic Light ; " 

No square nor compasse's design, 
Modeled for them a life divine : 

Born in its truth and purity 
They needed not its mystery, 

And lessons which the craftsman wrought 
To them the Master's love had taught. 

Souls like these, when bodies die, 
Pass on to light beyond the sky. 
Happy for us who live today, 
That darkened age has passed away, 

Drunken with fanatic zeal 
How those centuries did reel. 

Creeds the light and forms the guide. 
And back of them did evil hide. 

Now, from an atmosphere of doubt. 

The truth of God is shining out. 
Forms and creeds are thrust a^ide — 

- -At least they are not deified. 

The worship of the heart and mind 

In spirit and in truth combined 



*NoTE.— Three sisters, Agapa, Chione. and Irene, during 
the persecution of the christians, nnrJer Dioclesiau, sub- 
mitted to be burled alive, rather than sacrifice to idols. 



76 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

The only worship He designed. 

And all religions interwove, 
Rest only on the law of love. 

Nor form nor faiths this truth deny — 
— As a man lives, so shall he die. 



They always live and may be found 
Who with roses red are crowned. 

Compassion have, where they are worn, 
Know that a heart has cause to mourn. 

If to us upon the wing 
Birds of Paradise shall sing, 

Some of that happiness transmit 
To homes wherein the ravens sit. 

In halls of wealth as in a cot. 
May live the " Lady of Shalott," 

Whose woven pictures of the world 
Their web-like tracery unfurled, 

The future and the past have crossed. 
And in that heart all hope is lost. 

As silent waters first congeal, 
They suffer most who least reveal. 

And only tender sympathies 
Can reach to hidden hearts like these. 

Actions have a power of speech 
No language ever yet could teach. 

And that is why never a word 
To Heaven's record is transferred ; 



THE RED ROSE. 77 

Actions only are written there, 
They are our hope or our despair. 

-.!c * -/c •/ ^ * 

Have you read that beautiful story ? 
A legend of long ago, 

Manifold are the beauties. 
Its lesson maj^ bestow. 

'Tis that on Calvary's summit 
Over that Cross renowned 

When died the King who was crucified 
That birds were fluttering round ; 

No call, no sound did they utter, 
But ever on restless wing, 

As though 'twas a sorrow they could bor- 
row 
Or help from afar could bring. 

Perhaps they believed that Death was 
grieved. 
And there with His mission at strife. 

While the Nazarene waits. He hesitates 
To strike at the God of Life ; 

So He caused that pall of darkness to fall ; 
When Christ in agony prayed. 

To hide the sight from the Father of light. 
For death itself was afraid. 

Perhaps t'was the sight of the crimson 
light, 
The dew by anguish distilled, 

That the birds of the air knew the sign of 



7 8 THE STAR OF LIGHT. 

despair, 
When the blood of Christ was spilled : 
For tis' said these birds, when he uttered 
the words, 
"Lama Sabbacthini," 
Caught hold of the nails where the flesh 
impales, 
And with all their strength did try, 

To draw them away from the body of clay — 
— For the Prince of Peace was dead, — 
They failed, we know, but wherever they go, 

They carry the badge of red. 
Where their bosom was stained, the symbol 
retained, 
From the Master's blood in its flow, 
By the robin's breast is their deed confessed, 
That all the world may know. 

Thus has the " Red Ray " found its way, 

Since first the world was new ; 
Its lessons taught as time has wrought. 

While passing in review. 
Symbol of strife, emblem of life, 

Dual in its power ; 
Its beauties abide with the purified. 

When fades the passion flower. 
Its roseate glow is burning low : 

Perhaps eternal light, 
When earth is done and Heaven is won, 

Will turn the roses white. 



»H16 



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